Remote working: what once looked like a trendy lifestyle choice for few, is now a necessity for many. As our homes take on the additional roles of workplace, schoolroom and sanctuary, it is tempting to think of the traditional office space as the ideal setup.
The reality, however, looks different – even before the pandemic forced us into isolation, remote working was gaining favour. A study conducted by HR mammoth Randstad in 2018 indicated that every 1 in 2 Indian employees preferred to tele-commute. The most often cited reason was that traffic and travel simply weren’t worth the hassle; time and convenience won out over co-location and camaraderie.
While our appreciation for working from an office space may have soared again in the last few months, it is no secret that remote working is here to stay. The benefits simply outweigh the costs – both monetary, and otherwise.
Cost Vs Benefit – what makes a workplace work?
By design, human brains respond well to structure. Having different spaces for different activities boosts our cognitive functions and allows us to focus on each task. Going to the office, in that case, is a way to tell ourselves to switch from ‘play/rest’ mode to ‘work’ mode.
However, when we factor in distance, traffic, noise from surrounding workstations and frequent interruptions in the form of calls and memos, the office starts looking a lot less appealing. For many corporate workers, working from home yields higher productivity. For them, not only is coming to the office a waste of time and gas money, it’s not even an effective ‘work’ mode signifier.
On the flipside, while many employers prefer having their staff in one place, operational costs make an undeniable dent to their bottom-line. Even things like air conditioning and illumination add up, eating away at company profits. In a nutshell, working from an office is an expensive choice to make.
Hybrid Theory – Integrating Virtual Reality in the workplace
While video conferencing applications have been subsidizing operational costs for a decade, they are not a scalable or long-term solution. They may replace in-person meetings and moderately-sized conferences, but only to a degree. Their extensive use over the last year has revealed significant gaps in retaining users’ attention.
In the age of the attention economy, disconnection comes at a high price; if remote work is to continue without losing productivity, we need alternative solutions. Enter VR, with its tremendous potential for scale as well as customization, and near-perfect replication of real-life objects. Immersive VR software has found its way into every industry; it only makes sense that it supplants video conferencing applications too.
At NextMeet, we have been putting this tech to the test by creating an intricate virtual ecosystem where users can convene, network, and even explore. Using spatial audio and 3D avatars, we’re bridging the gap between remote working and office environments; virtual reality meetings can be held at a fraction of the cost of physical meetings, without the loss of time or efficacy.
From extra seats to expo spaces – the power of VR
While the adoption of a hybrid work-model is inevitable, each organization will face the critical challenge of determining the ratio that works best for them. Remote working has its merits, but a post-Covid world will value human connection highly.
It is safe to say that virtual reality will be the tool of choice to bridge that gap, for many. Not only do 3D virtual meetings provide a gamified alternative to group calls, they make it easier for users to engage with the information presented. It may seem inevitable to zone out during a Zoom meeting, at least once. Virtual meetings, however, present a far more streamlined and immersive interface, making every second spent in a discussion worth it.
Virtual meetings can also be scaled with little effort. A physical conference room with two new attendees can feel crowded, and a video conferencing app with 40 screens can feel overwhelming – a 3D virtual meeting space will simply accommodate more avatars. In NextMeet, we have taken this a step further by creating an array of meeting spaces that users can choose from, depending on their gathering size and purpose.
As organizations of all kinds adapt to a new normal, it’s time we view expense – of money, attention as well as convenience – as a key parameter. Our bets are placed on VR’s win.
